By REGINALD KANYANE

North West MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Desbo Mohono said they donated 30 culled cattle to the deprived communities in order to advance government efforts to reduce poverty and hunger. 

Mohono outlined that the donation was done through the North West Social Development. The event was held at the Potchefstroom Agricultural College recently.

“We have handed over 30 culled cattle to the North West Department of Social Development (NWDSD) for them to donate meat to the needy communities in the province. The cattle, which formed part of the NWDARD’s livestock research and the development programme was mainly of Nguni and Afrikaner breed.

“The cattle will be slaughtered for final exploration before being handed over to the NWDSD. The NWDSD has identified centres such as orphanages, old age homes and homes hosting people with disabilities as well as those who care for vulnerable groups as beneficiaries of this good act,” she said.

Mohono said the meat will be handed over immediately after final data collection by the NWDARD in order to avoid risks associated with contamination. She further said her department’s food security programme is proud to have advanced efforts by donating meat to communities.

“We have undertaken some robust efforts in ensuring our people that they do not go to bed hungry. We did this, through our food security programme. I have led a departmental team to go to communities to plant vegetable gardens and fruit trees, gave chicken eggs, indigenous chickens, goats and many other inputs.

“This time, we are delighted as the department to donate meat. It says to us, we are advancing in our quest to ensure that we alleviate hunger. Our department’s research unit has confirmed that the cattle are fit and will also verify after slaughtering them that the meat is indeed fit for consumption,” said Mohono.

She added that her department realised its mandate of right to food and freedom charter clause which advocates for food to be plentiful for all. Mohono said the department is also seeking to enhance nutrition and quality of its life to the most vulnerable communities and endorse independence. 

“As the impacts of COVID-19 take its toll on many people, it was imperative for government to strengthen its efforts to empower communities. The demand for food has gone higher now and it is a challenge because we have seen that many people have lost jobs.

“Agriculture now needs to be productive by bringing new and efficient methods to ensure that people have food. Research is one critical component as it supports the department’s contribution to the development of animal agriculture. This includes the exploration of improving livestock production systems, management practices, animal health, and welfare as well as food quality and safety amongst others,” Mohono said.

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

North West MEC for Education, Wendy Matsemela lauded communities after more than 38 000 Grade 12 learners across the province begin with their preliminary examinations without any disruptions. Matsemela said her department regards the preliminary examinations as a major assessment tool for the Grade 12 learners and will play a vital role in the School-Based Assessment marks.

“The 2020 academic year was engulfed by long school breaks posed by Covid-19. The recess has reduced the contact time between learners and teachers. However, the long school breaks could not discourage learners from attending school and many schools have completed their syllabus.

“On behalf of the department, I would like to thank our communities for the smooth running of the examinations on the first day. I am optimistic that learners will finish their examinations without any disruptions. We have tightened all processes for the question papers not to be leaked, right from printing until to the school level,” she said.

Matsemela added that they have contracted the private securities to the storage point too. She also encouraged learners to continue to work very hard now that they are closer to the finishing line.

“Learners should ensure that they collect the marks of the preliminary examinations as they will be added in their results at the end of the year. The preliminary examinations will be concluded on 2 October 2020 with the writing of Economics P2.

“The Grade 12 learners will write their final examinations from 05 November 2020 until 15 December 2020 and marking will start on 03 January 2021,” said Matsemela.

Kebonang Secondary School Grade 12 learner, Kelebogile Motshidi (18) said: “I wrote well my first English paper although I was nervous. We have finished the syllabus in all our subjects and I believe that we will pass the examinations.”

Letsatsing Science High School principal, Paseka Molefe shared the same sentiments. Molefe said he is confident that learners would make them exceptionally proud this year irrespective of the Covid-19. 

He further said as teachers, they have been working on revision and that will assist learners to know on which areas need special focus. “, said Molefe.

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

North West Agriculture and Rural Development department employees at the Agric Centre offices embarked on protest on Monday. Most workers who are aligned to the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) alleged that the Agri Centre building has been flagged as falling short of safety standards by the Department of Labour.

Nehawu regional secretary, Zanele Law said the Agri Centre building was unkempt, with ablution facilities constantly breaking down. Law urged the department to address safety measures before workers can return to work.

“As Nehawu regional structure, we were called by our Mahikeng branch to intervene after they have been requested to come back to work at the Agric Centre offices even though they have been declared inhabitable by the Department of Labour.

“So, we urge the North West Agriculture and Rural Development department to rectify those hazardous methods first. It cannot expect our workers to return to work even though the building has been declared not usable by the Department of Labour,” he said.  

Meanwhile, the North West Agriculture and Rural Development department’s acting Head of Department (HoD), Dipepeneneng Serage said: “There are two challenges that I think we need to separate. All dilapidated buildings with all infrastructure and its designs are things that we cannot resolve in a short and medium-term.

“We have engaged the landlord as you know the government departments do rent these buildings from Public Works. So, as soon as the Public Works department gives us another building, we are packed and ready to go.”

Employees also raised the cleanliness at the offices and Serage said they busy addressing that matter and it will be resolved by next week. He said the challenge resulted that most of their house-keeping officials are either above the age of 60 or have comorbidities that make it impossible for them to report for duty.  

“The cleaning and safety of the building at the Agri-Centre have never been outsourced. It has always been done by internal staff but they cannot be able to come to work owing it to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“However, we are busy planning to outsource a private cleaning company to subdue the situation. We have issued a notice to the entire staff that their offices are in bad shape and do not have usable ablution to work from home. By the way, we have been doing this throughout COVID-19 lockdown levels,” said Serage.

He said only essential workers will be moved to corridors that are better and equitable.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

ANC Youth League (ANCYL) in the Ngaka Modiri Molema region says it will fight tooth and nail against the ANC North West Interim Provincial Committee’s decision to recall troikas at five municipalities.

ANCYL regional secretary, Wessels Morweng said ANC (IPC) coordinator, Hlomani Chauke’s decision was absurd and sow divisions within the party. Morweng also called on Chauke to elucidate on what prompted their decision.

“We would like to categorically state it clear without any ambiguity that the announcement made by Chauke on reshuffling of five troikas should be rejected with the contempt it deserves. We further want to caution Chauke that he cannot bring anarchy in the organisation, but if its anarchy that he wants, we are more than ready to give it in return.

“We heard with disappointment when Chauke alluded that he has made a scientific analysis in his decision. Now, if indeed he has made the scientific analysis, did he consider the Auditor General’s report?” said Morweng.

He further said the AG’s damning report describes that municipalities such as the Ngaka Modiri Molema District and Rustenburg Local Municipality is in shambles. Morweng said they were not shocked when those municipalities were not in Chauke’s list of reshuffling because he allegedly uses them as his cash cow.

“The money that is looted at the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality is used to finance the political agenda that intends to throttle comrades especially those who are in association with comrade Supra Mahumapelo. Our question of criteria that was used, still stand, and how you and your collective did arrive at this determination?” asked Morweng.

He alleged that the ANC interim structure in the province has failed dismally to carry out its mandate, which was to build the party and unite its branches. He said, instead the structure is obsessed with fiddling with the affairs of the municipalities in a quest to appoint their acquaintances who will agree to their agenda of looting them.

“Chauke, you know that these mayors were targeted because they failed to listen to your instructions to allow you and your acquaintances to access the municipal purse. Maybe let us assist you and tell the public why these mayors are being targeted.

“In Ditsobotla Local Municipality, you had issued an instruction that a particular service provider be appointed on three contracts for the financial management system.

“It must be known that the service provider was charging the municipality a whopping R26 million and another competitive bidder charging the municipality R10 million and was preferred against your ideal contractor,” he said.

Morweng said at the Mahikeng Local Municipality, some of ANC councillors have failed in their attempt to oust the mayor, but no disciplinary action was taken against them. He further said the ANC (IPC) failed to intervene because those councillors were aligned with Chauke’s factional leadership.

“This decision was informed by the N12 faction and was taken at a shebeen in Potchefstroom. The decision would have dire consequences looking at the fact that we are a few months before local government elections.

“The organisation should close ranks and redeem its integrity in a quest to acquire votes from the masses in 2021 Local elections. Chauke, please tell us why should we listen to your biased factional pronouncement, not so long ago you refused the North West Premier, Prof Job Mokgoro to reshuffle his cabinet,” said Morweng.

However, Chauke refuted allegations levelled against him. He said the decisions of the ANC are taken by the structures of the party including the ANCYL and ANCWL.

“What the ANCYL in Ngaka Modiri Molema District is doing is a sign of ill-discipline. There is no individual who votes outside the organisational decisions and advocates their own. So, we do not have independent ANCYL and ANCWL within the party. All these structures are integral components of the party.

“They can go to court to contest any decision and they will be given a chance to explain who they are too. Normally, we have internal structures within the party to address any grievances raised by disgruntled members. Anyone who has tangible evidence against corruption can approach the nearest police station and open a case,” he said.

Chauke said the ANC has taken a decision to fight corruption and will continue fearlessly to do so. He said anyone who is involved in any form of corruption needs to be jailed despite their positions within the party.

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the North West says the removal of mayors in five municipalities is ‘too little too late’ because the the situation is already in a dire state. The ANC Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) in the province announced its decision to remove the municipalities’ troikas yesterday during a media briefing in Rustenburg.

The affected municipalities are Ditsobotla, Mahikeng, Maquassi Hills, Matlosana Local Municipalities, and the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality.

EFF provincial leader, Shakes Botswe said: “We believe that the removal of those mayors in municipalities was prompted by factional battles. According to the AG’s 2018/ 2019 financial report says the regression in audit outcomes completes a three-year downward trajectory in the province.

“AG’s report shows that nine municipalities received disclaimed opinions and eight received qualified opinions. The availability of documents or evidence to support financial activities remained a vast challenge across the municipalities, as evidenced by the number of repeats disclaimed opinions.”

Botswe said the municipalities in the province incurred irregular expenditure totalling R5 billion. He said mayors from all 22 municipalities need to be recalled because there is a lack of accountability by senior management, municipal managers, mayors, internal audit units, audit committees, municipal public accounts committees and councils.

North West University political analyst, Andre Duvenhage said 80 to 90% of all municipalities in South Africa are dysfunctional. Duvenhage said, for example, there are number of municipalities in the Free State province that cannot provide water and electricity.

“This has also spread to the Western Cape under the Democratic Alliance-led municipalities. Now, the North West is compared to the worst in South Africa. Municipalities in all districts are basically falling apart.

“One day I was flabbergasted after seeing a report claiming that JB Marks Local Municipality is the best municipality in North West. I’m staying here in Potchefstroom for the past 15 years and I must tell you that this is the worst-case scenario in the history of Potchefstroom,” he said.

Duvenhage added that, if the JB Marks Local Municipality is the symbol of the best, people should imagine what is going on in the worst. He said a Section 139 intervention from the provincial government to local government is a complete failure.

“Basically, we can say the local government in the North West is falling apart and is a complete decay. There is also an indication to me that the ANC as a political party may lose support. It may lose the local government structures in a number of districts in the province if it may be elections tomorrow.

“We know that we are heading for local government elections next year and things are not looking good for the ANC. Currently, there is political turmoil taking place in the province. The fact of the matter is that there is a long history of internal conflicts in the party since 1994,” said Duvenhage.

He said everything in South Africa is now politicised and that is a bad omen. Duvenhage further said normally in a democratic country, the state needs to be differentiated with civil society.

“We must have a state structure at one side, and civil society. The ideal was that the state must not interfere in civil society. In South Africa, in the case of the state we have a party that runs it and working with civil societies.

“So, there is also serious infighting in the province with Supra Mahumapelo’s group which is very dominant and we have the ANC IPC coordinator, Hlomani Chauke’s group as involved there as well,” he concludes.

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

The ANC Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) in the North West has recalled five mayors from various municipalities across the province. This was announced by the ANC IPC coordinator, Hlomani Chauke during a media briefing at Rustenburg on Friday.

The affected municipalities are Mahikeng, Ditsobotla, Maquassi Hills, Matlosana Local Municipalities and the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality.

Chauke said they have reached this decision after they have concluded their rigorous assessment of various municipalities in the province. He said the committee has noted with concern, the debilitating state of administration and the dismal failure of governance in most of the municipalities.

“The failure of the municipal leadership to provide the requisite oversight has resulted in the collapse of the municipal administration. Even more, perturbing for the IPC, is the inability of these municipalities to discharge their constitutional mandate and provide much needed services to our communities.

“These assessments were scientific in approach and informed by, amongst others, the continued regression in the audit outcomes over the past few years as reported by the Auditor General,” he said.

Chauke added that the AG’s pejorative report highlighted a number of instances of non-compliance with the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), mismanagement of the public funds, financial irregularities and lack of systems of accountability including consequence management.

He further said the committee also noted the ongoing political instability in various municipalities which led to the disruption of the key mandate of the ANC-governed municipalities to provide meaningful service delivery to people.

“These disruptions have manifested themselves in different ways including through violent attacks on councillors, municipal employees, leaders of labour unions and even more worrisome, members of the community. This violence has resulted in some community members burning properties belonging to councillors.

“The ANC Constitution enjoins the IPC to amongst others, supervise and direct the work of the ANC and all its organs in the province, including the ANC provincial and local government caucuses.

“The instability in the municipalities has serious implications for the ANC which contests elections as a registered political party drawing support from all sections of South African society,” said Chauke.

He said the committee has in line with the ANC constitution, gone through great lengths to guide and reign over its deployees. Chauke said , however, some of these councillors have remained defiant and uncooperative.

“Consequently, the IPC has resolved to recall its Troikas in five municipalities. The troikas comprise of Mayors, Speakers and Chief Whips. Ordinarily, the IPC would not have preferred to recall these deployees given the reality that local government elections will be held next year.

“However, we can no longer overstretch the growing impatience of our communities with our public representatives. This decision is a consequence of broad consultations with the national leadership of the ANC, our leagues and alliance partners,” he said.

Chauke further said as they effect these changes, the ANC will require maximum unity among all its members, supporters and society. He said these changes will enable them to sharpen their capacity to advance and defend the National Democratic Revolution (NDR).

“The IPC will expect members of the ANC to close ranks and to build well-oiled machinery, capable of uniting the people of the province and the broadest range of all sectors of society to accelerate service delivery.

“To achieve these, the ANC expects all its members to display high political discipline as a necessary ingredient without which, it will be almost impossible to deliver basic services as expected by our people,” said Chauke.

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By REGINALD KANYANE

South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) in the North West intends to take legal action against the embattled Naledi Local Municipality. This comes after a few members belonging to the union were allegedly attacked by the security guards at the municipality during a standoff on Wednesday.

SAMWU provincial secretary, Vincent Diphoko said they had a meeting with some of the employees over lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs). Diphoko added that they tried in numerous times to address the matter with the municipality, but their request fell in deaf ears.

“There was a separate meeting between our national structure and the municipality. The municipality called a schedule 8 meeting where it was intending to charge our provincial chairperson and the regional secretary of Mahikeng. So, the SAMWU national and the provincial leadership were there to facilitate the meeting.

“However, workers went outside the meeting that we held and went to demand the PPEs from the municipal management. In that process, the security guards employed by the municipality ambushed them with violence. Unfortunately, some of our members were injured in that process and our national treasurer was admitted to hospital because of pepper spray,” he said.

Diphoko added that they are now waiting for a legal opinion from their head office and they will decide whether to open a criminal case against the security company or the municipality. He said they are still compiling a report to check how many people were injured, but confirmed that one person was admitted to the hospital for medical assistance.    

However, the acting municipal manager, Thabo Appolus refuted the allegations. Appolus said those workers disrupted their meeting.  

“We have supplied all our workers with Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs). Our records also show that the said officials that were demanding PPEs were given them. So, the issue was not about the PPEs. The SAMWU national officials came as a request from us because we had a schedule 8 meeting in terms of the Labour Relation Act.

“There are issues relating to the contravention of Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) and as management, we were instituting disciplinary action against their members,” he said.

Appolus added that the situation has returned to normality and the municipality will continue with its course to charge those who transgressed. He said they also agreed with the SAMWU leadership to ensure that service delivery is disrupted.

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

The heartfelt condolence messages continue to pour into the family and friends of the renowned struggle icon and human rights lawyer, advocate George Bizos who died on Wednesday.

Bizos was born in Greece, but fled his Nazi occupation of his native Greece at age 13 to become one of South Africa’s prominent human rights lawyers. His health continued to deteriorate over the years.  

South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) chairperson in the North West, Paul Sebegoe said Bizos was a revolutionary intellectual and a selfless jurist who had set the bar for South Africa’s legal system very high.

“Bizos principled leadership, wise legal counsel and cardinal contribution towards our constitutional democracy, rule of law, human rights values including the reconciliation, nation-building, and social cohesion as well as reclaiming the values that underpinned the struggle for liberation will be sorely missed.

“He represented a generation of fearless and selfless leaders that stood against the might of the apartheid state. It could be rightly argued that Bizos saved the late ANC president and world icon, Nelson Mandela, Govan Mbeki as well as Walter Sisulu from receiving the death sentence and going to the gallows during the Rivonia treason trial,” he said.

Sebegoe said they were confident that Bizos would bounce back to good health, after he fell and hit his head on the night that he received the deserved Freedom of Johannesburg after a public lecture hosted at Wits University four years ago.

He further said Bizos was an internationalist, a great fighter, a defender of the defenseless downtrodden and marginalised, conscience of our nation as well as a humble patriot who made an invaluable contribution towards creating a united, democratic, non-racial, non-sexist, peaceful, and prosperous society,” said Sebegoe.

It was reported that Bizos who was 87 year of age at that time, fell and hit his head two days after receiving the award after a public lecture hosted in his honour and the late ANC stalwart as well as Rivonia trialist, Andrew Mlangeni at Wits University and was admitted to the institution’s Donald Gordon Medical Centre in Parktown.

The university newspaper, the Wits Vuvuzela had at the time reported that after the fall, Bizos was bleeding from his neck and was helped to his feet by guests who attended the lecture.

The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation spokesperson, Zaakirah Vadi said the foundation is deeply saddened by the passing of Bizos. Vadi expressed sincere condolences to the family, friends, and comrades of Bizos.

“The foundation recalls the extremely close personal friendship between its founder, Ahmed Kathrada and the late Bizos. We remember Bizos fighting back tears at the Westpark Cemetery as he remembered the life and times of Kathrada. “At the time, Bizos said that Kathy was known for dedicating his life to the cause of the struggle and the realisation of freedom in South Africa. He said Kathrada was a brave man with a sense of humour,” said Vadi.

He further said today they fight back their tears in memory of Bizos. Vadi added that Bizos was a great South African, who dedicated his life to fighting apartheid through the courts.

“We reiterate Kathrada’s remarks about Bizos. Kathrada said Bizos stand in that long tradition of great human beings who although not born in this country did so much to contribute to its well-being.

“Bizos was a highly respected, renowned, and internationally acclaimed South African lawyer. He was an outstanding human rights activist who made his mark under apartheid while defending among other ANC leaders such as Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu , and Ahmed Kathrada during the 1964 Rivonia Trial,” concluded Vadi.

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

Patients were left stranded at Taung District Hospital after healthcare workers embarked on protest and downed their tools since Monday. This comes after healthcare workers alleged that the department failed to pay them their overtime and performance bonuses for three months.

One of the healthcare workers who refused to be named for fear of reprisal said: “We will continue with the protest until the management adheres to our demands. We cannot continue as normal, while we are owed by the management.

“We tried to engage with them in numerous times, but we were sent from pillars to post. Now, it is high time that the management listens to us and stop being arrogant. How do you expect us to perform our duties while we are not happy?

Another healthcare worker said they have been at the forefront in a fight against coronavirus and joining one fight over the other is not a false choice at all. She said given their career choice to protect human lives, the effect of disparities in their work is imperative fighting for.

“After all, we have been risking our lives to save others who were sick, the novel coronavirus causes, and we understand how events like protests may land a whole new crop of cases in our care, some of whom we may not be able to help. However, the management leaves us with no choice,” he said.

Meanwhile, the North West Health Department spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane said it true that they did not pay healthcare workers their performance bonuses. He said before payments are done, the normal process is verification and approval and that normally takes time. 

“The facility has not received approval of Performance Management and Development System (PMDS) as yet. The employees were informed on Monday that their June and July claims will be paid on Thursday next week.

“For August, employees are still making submissions through their respective managers /supervisors. PMDS will be processed once verification and approval by the province is granted,” said Lekgethwane.

He further said emergencies and critical patients are being referred to Joe Morolong Hospital in Vryburg.

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By REGINALD KANYANE

Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality in partnership with the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries visited two centres and school in Lehurutshe to celebrate Arbor Month.  

The municipal mayor, Lerato Selebogo said even though Arbor Day was first celebrated over 100 years ago, it is still important to create awareness as trees play a pivotal role in preserving livelihoods against the deforestation of the environment.  

She said the aim of the day was to raise awareness of trees and to help to provide an educative service to all areas of the community.

“People need to look at the destruction and long term damage that deforestation has on the environment to realize the importance of this day. We can no longer take trees for granted as they preserve our livelihoods in various ways.

“So, we visited the Areka Old Age Centre and Hospice along with the Dikhudu Primary School where we planted few trees. We sometimes experience soil erosion in our areas that might be hazardous to our livelihoods, so it is our duty as parents to educate our children the importance of this initiative,” she said.

Youth Environmental Coordinator at the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Thapelo Mongala shared the same sentiments. Mongala said as the custodians of the environment, it is important to look after it.

“This entails greening and planting of trees. The initiative does not only preserve the condition of the environment, but give oxygen to the livelihoods. It has been our culture that when one cut a tree, is expected to plant another tree of the same kind to avoid deforestation.

“However, it seems we have lost a plot on that in modern days because people can go on a deforestation spree without thinking twice. We need to restore the custom of planting of trees to avoid disastrous situations,” Mongala added.

Areka Old Age Home and Hospice director, Mazulu Motona welcomed the initiative. Motona who is also a chairperson of the South African Older Person’s Forum (SAOPF) at Ngaka Modiri Molema District said: “We really appreciate the visit of various stakeholders at our centre. We have received unwavering support from various stakeholders including the donations of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from a private company in Gauteng.

“It has been five years since the existence of the centre. However, we have not received any assistance from the North West Social Development thus far. It is also disheartening to hear the news that the department is planning to shut down the centre for non-compliance. So, we urge any assistance from anyone as we give refuge to older persons who are vulnerable.”

Matona also sent his regards to the North West MEC for Agriculture, Desbo Mohono and the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipal mayor, Justice Makolomakwa for their selflessness contributions.  He said he is also grateful that they have not registered any COVID-19 case at the centre.

The centre has 18 employees and is a safe haven to 36 older persons who come from various backgrounds.

Dikhudu Primary School teacher, Thomas Lehutso welcomed the planting of trees at their school. Lehutso said that children will also learn from tender age that planting of trees is of value.  

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